Mutable publicity apparatus.



F. G. NEWELL, JR. MUTABLE PUBLICITY APPARATUS.

P. G. NEWELL, JR.

MUTABLE PUBLICITY APPARATUS.

- APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 28, 191.1-V 1,069,950 Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

F. G. NEWELL, JR. MUTABLE PUBLICITY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1 911.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

F. C. NEWELL, JE- MUTABLE PUBLICITY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1911. Lggg gggg, Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

6 SHEETSSHBET -L.

F. G. NEWELL, JR. 1 MUTABLE PUBLICITY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET a.

lM/fiesses TI Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

1. a Wt U .llwr hr it. is

rlhl MUTABLE PUBLICITY APPATd/f TUS.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application area lin -asses, ion.

Serial lilo.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK Cnannnon Nmvnnn,51"., a citizen of the United States ofnmerica, residing at Los Angeles,in the county of Los iingcles, State oi California, have invented acertain new and useful Mutable Publicity Apparatus; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which isappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to mutable publicity apparatus, particularly suchan apparatus in which a series of letters, figures or other charactersmay be produced to form a legend or design, and the same may, at thewill of the operator, be withdrawn from view or changed.

it is an object of the invention to provide novel and in'lprovedapparatus" of the class specified in which a series of stationarycharacter units may be actuated by operat' ing mechanism common to allof the said units.

it is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus that maybe operated through the instrumentality of a keyboard closely resemblingthat of the ordinary typewriter.

It is also an object to provide the apparatus with automatic meanswhereby the legend may be produced and displayed by means of aperforated strip of paper or similar material.

Anotherobject is to provide means by which the characters composing alegend may he successively transmitted to the vari ous character units,and said units operated simultaneously to display said legend.

A further object is to. provide means whereby damage to the apparatus orthe obliteration of the legend before it has been displayed, owing tocareless operation, may be prevented.

A further object is to preventfluninteutional repetition of charactersby the accidental holding down of a key.

A further object is to use elec'tro-magnets for holding parts inposition after said parts have been brought into position mechanically,thereby obviating the use of large magnets. with the consequentnecessity for large current consumption.

Further objects of the invention are, to provide an apparatus which issimple in construction, economical to manufacture and operate, easy tomanipulate, and durable and effective in use.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be embodiedin the hereinafter described construction, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in wlnch- Figure l is general view in perspectiveof the apparatus in position upon and in a building; Fig. 2 is adiagram, showing the position and arrangement of the display members inone of the character unit-s; Fi

3 is an illustration of a letter formed by the apparatus; Fig. is aperspective View, with portions broken away, of the operating mechanism;Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing the tripping mechanism; Fig. 6 is anelevation of a portion of the same; Fig.7 is

a perspective detail oi. the initial end of the progressor means; 8 is aperspective View of the tracker returning means; Fig. 9 is a perspectiveview, with portions broken away, of the hey-board. Fig. 10 is aperspective detail of the ice-setting contact devices; Fig. 11 is aperspective view of the automatic operating device; Fi 12 is aperspective. view of the electromagnets and 0p; erative connections; 13is a diagram of the electric circuits; i l is a perspective detail of apneumatic substitute for the elcctromagnets, and Fig. 15 is a detailoi": an automatic switch.

-ZVOtc.-'1hroughout the following description, except when referring tothe key-board, the right hand end of the apparatus is that toward theright hand of a spectator standing in front of and racing the apparatusin a position to read any legend displayed thereby.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. l, the character units A may beplaced side by side in any convenient position, and may have at one end,operating mechanism B preferably provided with a case i. To thisoperating mechanism may be connected wires 5 leading to the transmitterdevices 6, preferably located within the buildin vReferring now to Fl 2,3, and 4, the character units A. may comprise the frame 7, prorided withside pieces 8 in which are pivotally mounted rods 9. Side by side uponth rods 9 are loosely mounted a plurality of display members 10 eachconsisting in this instance of the curved piece 11 and integrally formedend pieces 12 which latter are journaled upon the said rods 9. One edgeof each of the curved pieces 11, which are of contrasting colors ontheir two sides, is provided with a slot 13 through which passes the endof arm 14 of the connector 15, said end being curved to form a hinge inconnection with the metal at the edge of said piece 11. The displaymembers may be of various lengths and two or more may be coupled to thesame connector, as is indicated by the dotted vertical lines in Fig. 2.

In order to move the display members to have them all in like position,resetting means C is preferably employed and con sists of the following:Beds 9 may be provided. with projections 16, disposed adjacent to andadapted to contact with the curved piece 11 of each of members 10,whereby rotation of the rods 9 will turn all the members thereon byreason of the projections l6 engaging with. the curved pieces 11. Toeffect the turning of these rods, there is provided a side plate 17which engages cranks 1? upon the ends of rods 9. Side plates 1? areconnected by means of a link 18 to an arm rigidly attached to a shaft 20pivotally mounted in bearings 21 and having a second. arm 22 adapted tobe actuated by liftentracker 2-3 which carries a stud arranged tocontact with and move said arm 22. Upon the operation of tracker 23, themeans for which. will be described later, the display members 10 willall be turned to have their concave sides on display, and when the saidtracker is released the said members will all be turned to have theirconvex sides on display, and it will be evident that if a predeterminednumber or when the combs single or of connected groups of the saiddisplay members in any of the character units A are held from rotationby means of the connectors 15, adesired character may be formed upon thesaid character unit. The selective mechanism D by which the holding ofthe said connectors 15 in an upward position is accomplished may be asfollows: To each of the said connectors 15 is rigidly attached a tumbler25, (see Figs. 41 and 5) and beneath the tumbler 25 are disposed aseries of combs 26 provided with teeth 27 which teeth normally are insuch a position that the'tumblers may descend freely, but

are moved to a. certain position the teeth come into place beneath oneor more of said tumblers. The combs 26 may be moveddtof which is provi twith an opening :29 b

which it may em go the projection 30 on the adjacent comb 2 5 it high.the trackers are moved laterally (in the, presentinstance). This lateralmovement may be accomplished by means of engaging mechanism E comprisingtracker guides 31. Each. of guides 31 may be successively moved to bringthe enmbs of its particular character unit Into inoperative positionshaft 48 carries a bar 49 which oscillates ter against the tension.mutator segment 53 ,and

ieans of trackers 28, each shortly after a hook engagement with thetrackers 28" by means of a disk 32 which has a cam portion 33 formednear the periphery thereof. The cam disks 32 are serially orprogressively operated by means of spacer tracker 34. Each w) of thetrackers 23, 28 and 3e are connected preferably at the right hand (orend of the line) end of the apparatus to the operating mechanism B whichmay be as follows: A hook 35 is normally held in an upward or by a latch36 engaging a lug 37 upon the book 35. Latch 36is also pronded with a'tail 38 and with an car 39 through which latter passes a Wire 40connecting it to the hinged armature 41 of an electromagnet 42 mountedupon the panel 43. Each ofthe latches 36 is provided with a spring 45the action of which tends to draw the armature 41 away fromelectromagnet 42. Each wire 4:0 is preferably provided with a springportion 44. The hooks 35 are attached at their inner ends to theirrespective trackers and may be provided at their outer end with guides Arockers? pivotally mounted u on a below the hooks 35 the oscillationbeing of fectcd by a rod 50, preferably with a resilient element 51,connecting the rocker to a wrist pin 52 upon a crank disk 53 whichlatter may be rotated by means of gearing which is-contained in case 542and operated by means of an electric or other motor 55. Rocker 47 alsocarries a second bar 56, which, when the parts are shown in Fig; 4,engages the under side of the hooks and raises the latter until the lugs37 contacting with latches 36 move the latof the springs 45,

in the position and, through the medium of the parts de- 5 scribed,force the armatures 41 into contact with their respective electromagnets452. If an electric current is sent through any of the electroinagnets42 (in a manner to beexplained. later) when the forward, the latchconnected with the armature of that particular electromagnet will not bepermitted to engage the lug 37 of its hook 35 and said hook will bepressed downand it will contact 115 Wardly by its spring 57 with the-bar49 and thus draw to the right the tracker to which it is attached. A.com is aflixed to the disk 53, by means of brushes 58 and 59,interrocker 47 starts rupts the circuit of the electromagnets' l-2 mo 35has been engaged by the bar 49. This causes the armature 4.1 to (rep andrestores the latch 36 to position for a succeeding operation. At thesame time the bar 49 contacts with of the latches to insure that thearmatures do not remain in place owing to residual magnetism.

The lifter tracker 23 may be operated in either of two ways,

the tails 38 12a depending upon whether we lit? messes the charactersare to be displayed serially or in a Whole line simultaneously. In thesecond instance the second electromagnet 421 would be energized andactuate the parts to move the lifter tracker 23 to the right untilpivoted stop affixed to any stationary part of the apparatus dropsbchind a projection 61 formed on said tracker to hold itin its movedposition. The hook 35 which is directly connected to the tracker 23 isprovided with an oft-set portion (32 which permits of the play of bar 56without interfering with the hook when the tracker is held in its righthand position. If the character units are to be displayed serially, thetracker 23 is operated by means of the first elect-romagnet 4'2", hook,etc, which pulls a short tracker 63 which is adapted to engage with astud 65 affixed to the tracker 23 and arranged in a slot 64 in thetracker 63. The short tracker 63 is provided with an inclined portion 66which is adapted to raise the stop. 60 out of engagement with theprojection 61,-zso that upon the return stroke of the rocker 47 thetracker 23 may be moved to resume its left hand position.

The progressor means G by which the differ'ent tracker guides 31 aresuccessively moved to bring the trackers of a particular unit'intoengagement with the combs of that unit may be as followsz- -Each ot' thedisks 3-2 except. the first, 32, is preferably provid'ed with piece 67(triangular shaped in the present instance) mounted at one cornerthereof upon a pivot 68 near the periphery of t-he'disk and provided atits two remaining corners with a pin 69 and a second pivot 70 tovwhichlatter is connected one end of a link t'l; the other end of the link '71being pivot-ally attached to a stud 72 which is mounted near theperiphery of the preceding disk 32 and is preferably disposed at agreater distance than the pivot 70 from the center of the shaft 73, Fig.5, upon which said disk rotates. A spring may be attached to the' link71 at its one end and to a fixed portion of the apparatus at'its otherend. Spacer trackers 34 may be provided with projections 75 which areadapted to contact with pins 69 when any of the latter is moved into acertain position. The initial disk 32*, Fig. 7, is not provided with apiece 67 but has instead thereof a pawl 76 which lies in the path ofboth a projection 77 on the tracker 23 and of a projection 78 on thetracker 34. Upon a complete stroke of the tracker 23 disk 32 will berotated through an angle of approximately 60 degrees and it will inovethe tracker guide 81 to bring'the trackers into engagement with thecombs 26 of the initial character unit. If, new; -any one of theelectromagnets 42 (other than those pertaining to trackers 23 and 2t)jis energized, its particular tracker Will move its comb 26 to the rightto briiu its teeth 27 below the tumbler or tumblers pertaining to thepariicular character cm'rcspomliug to that tracker. The rotation of disk32 also, by means of link Tl, moves the piece 7 of the second characterunit on its pivot (SS until the pin (it) rests upon the tracker 34; andupon the movement to the right. of the said tracker 3-1 the pin 9 isthrown, by the action of the spring 74, down into the path of"projection 75. Upon the return stroke of the tracker iii, the projection75 by contacting with the pin (39 rotates the second disk 32, and, atthe same time, the link 71 is moved to restore disk 32 to its initialposition and the link 72 moves the piece (57 ot the succeeding or thirddisk 32 into position to be engaged by the tracker 34. in Fig. 7 thetracker 23 is shown in its right hand position and it will be seen thatwhen it is operated and returned to its left hand position, as has beenpreviously described, the subsequent operation of tracker 3% will liftthe pawl 76 out of engagement with the projection 77 and allow the link71* to restore the disk to its normal position. The disks 32 are onemore in number than the character units, the last disk 321 of the seriesnot being operativcly connected with any tracker guide, but acting as aswitch for the electric circuits and also serving for the purpose ofrestoring the preceding disk to its normal position, it oscillates inproxin'iity to a standard 3 (see Fig. 15) upon which are mountedinsulatedlycontact pieces 323 an( 3. A sliding shoe 32 insulatcdlyattached to the disk 321, brings either contact piece 3* or 3 intoelectrical connection with contact piece 3 closing or opening thecircuits as shown in Fig. 13. The disk 321 is restored to position by apin 79 adapted to be engaged by the end of the slot 80 in the shorttracker 63. At the initial end of the machine is positioned the trackerreturning device H shown in Fig. 8, which may consist of a rocker 81pivotally mounted in bearings 82 attached to the frame of the apparatusand having across bar 83' which is 'arranged in slots 8% formed inreinforced ends of the trackers 28, 23 and A return tracker 85 isattached at its one end to the upper end of the ro cker 81 and at itsother end it is attached to the upper end pt rocker 47 by means of astud 86 passing through a slot 87 in the tracker. Whenever one or moreof the trackers 28, 23 or 34 are operated, they draw the bar 83 to theright and also the tracker 85 to the left and on the completion of thestroke of rocker 47 itdraws the tracker 85 to the right and thereby re'turns any of the trackers 28, 23 or 34 to its normal position.

The shaft 20 may be held from rotation and side piece 1? heldin itsupper posi- 1 3 b tion prior to the display of a character by he tripmeans shown more particularly in Fig. 6.

lleferringto Figs. 4c, 5 and 6, upon each of the shafts 20 is rigidlyaffixed an arm 88 the lower end of which engages a trip member 89 whichis co-axially mounted with the disk 32 and normally held into engagementwith said arm 88 by means of spring 00, Fig. 6. Trip member 89 carries across bar 91. which is adapted to engage a projection 92 or 02" on thecombs 26 depending upon which side of the combs is uppermost;

the combs being reversible for a purpose hereinafter explained. Mounted.at the pcriphery of the disk 32 is'a latch 93 which may engage the tripmember 89, and a projection 94 formed on arm 88 is adapted to engage theend 95 of the latch 93 when the arm 88 or the shaft 20 rotates to allowthe sidepiece 17 to descend. y

The electromagnets 42 may be energized by means of anelectric currentderived from any suitable source, the circuit being preferably closed bymeans of manual transmitting apparatus J or automatic transmittingapparatus K shown in Figs 9, 10 and 11. The transmitting apparatus J mayconsist of manual key board 91 shown in Fig. 9 which may be providedwith keys 95 preferably arranged nearly like that of a standardtypewriter and provided with a space bar and also with. a silent extrakey 97' not operatively connected to any part of the apparatus butmerely used by the OIJQPIIOI' for getting into step with theoscillations of the rocker 47. To each of the keys and also to space bar96' is connected a lever 98 which is pivoted at one end and providednear its other end with a sloping recess 99 and also with a projection100 which when the key or space bar is depressed presses down aninsulating block 101 carried by a contact-spring 102 which is affixed atone end to a conductor piece 103 and is adapted to engage at its otherend with a contact 104% which is in electrical com munication with thatone of the magnets 12 pertaining to the tracker 28 belonging to theparticular key. a

The means L to prevent unintentjpnal repeating of characters may bedescribed as follows :-Below the recess 0901? the levers 98 ispositioned a bar 105 attached to a bell crank 106 having its rear endpivotally connected to a piece 107, with a projecting portion 107 whichplays between springs 108 and 100 attached to some stationary part ofthe apparatus. The iowerend of piece 107 is formed with a shoulder 107which, in the upper position, engages a part 1 10 attached to lever 111pivotally mounted on the base the apparatus, The lever 111 earr' s onits rear end an armature 112 which when the front end of the lever isdepressed by piece 107, comes in contact with pole piece of a magnet 113arranged in an electric circuit which by means ofthe commutator 53 isinterrupted at every oscillawith an insulating block 114 on a spring. 7115 which is in the same circuit as the piece 103 and closes the saidcircuit when the said lever is depressed. The rear end of lever 111 isconnected by means of a link 116 with release mechanism of any preferredconstruction (which is not here illustrated or described as it forms nopart of this present invention) by which the carriage 117 is allowed tomove toward the left to bring the graduations of scale 118 carriedthereby successively into alinement with the pointer 119 aifixed to thetop of the key board. Bell 120 may be operated in the usual manner bythe said carriage 117 when it nears thc limit of its movement to theleft. The carriage 117 may also be provided with a fingeii'. piece 121whereby it may be moved to the right; this operation being adapted, bymeans of contact devices shown in Fig. 10, to clear the character unitsby actuating the resetting means C by energizing either of the magnets421 or 42 pertaining to tracker 23 or 63. Carriage 117 carries at itsleft hand end a lever 122 which is pivotally mounted thereon and may bemoved so that its lower end 123 on the loo movement of the carriage tothe right may contact with either of insulating blocks 12$- or 125 whichare carried by contact springs 126 and 127 respectively. Contact withthe block 124 closes the circuit of the magnet 42" associated withtracker.63, which, as has already. been stated, thereupon moves forward,or to the right, with tracker 23 matically operated by means of thetransmitting apparatus K employing a strip 131 of paper or similarmaterial having therein perforations 132 and 133 which may be formed bymeans of a perforating apparatus of any approved construction and whichis indicated by the reference numeral 134 in Fig. 1. The perforations1.32, as the strip 131 passes over rollers 135 and 136, pass underaprojectingend 13? of bell-cranks 138; the other end of the bell. crank138 being adapted to press against cont-acts 139 each of which iselectrically connected to 51 one of the magnets 42, 22 or 421. Currentmay be supplied to these belbcranks 138 through the comb 140 the springteeth of which comb rest under the projections 1 11 on the bell-cranksand press the ends 13? thereof downwardly through the holes 182 as thesaid holes pass under the said ends; Roller 136 is. preferably providedwith grooves or depressions .lrfi'which register with the holes 132 thatus the roller rotates the ends 13? of the bell-cranks are lifted by thesides of sold groove and thus prevent wear of the strip 131 at theedgesof the holes. 132. The roller 136 is preferably driven by means ofgearing 1 13 operab 29 ed by a spring (not seen) in e. spring'bar rel1%.

The shaft 1 15 of roller liltirarries an escapemcnt wheel lit: adaptedto; be intermittently released by 147 which may 11c of. any epproveifi.construction which may be i'nounted upon a rigidly connected theierimovable end of wh ch ries err nture 150 adeptctt' to be dre upwardly orre 39, leased by a solenoid or 151. The rollers 135 and 136 arepreferably provided with sprocket tcethflfii l adapted to enter theholes 133 at each side the strip 131 to move it and keep theperforations in alincincnt beneath t is ends 137 of the bellcranks.

The pneumatic substitute for the electro-' magnets, as illustrated inFig. may consist of a chamber 153 from which the air is n exhausted whenit is, by means of any preferred form of valve key put intocommunication with a receptacle in which ii vacuinn is maintained. Thevalve 15% is hingedly connected to the plate supporting the chamber 153-und it is connected by means of a wire 10 to one of the latches 31' asii the principal constructiim.

in the operation of the invention, the motor 55 being started by meansof the rheostat. 156, shown in Fig. 1, and, assuming that it is desiredto exhibit each character unit, in succession; the lover being in theposition shown in Fig. 0 and the carriage 117 being thrown to the rightcontact is made by the end 12-3 of lever with the block 125 and by themeans already dscribed the first magnet -12 pertaining to tracker ca isenergized nnd said tracker is pulled to the right and draws with it, byso means of stud. 65, the tracker This raises all of the side plates 17,thereby turning all of the display members 10' to have the concave sidethereof on display. tiny of the various keys on the key-board .ti may asnow ,be'opcratccl in succession to write any t ll? the a position forpassing current to the magnet 113, through the circuitshown in 13, thearmature 112 will be attracted and held against'the pole pieces of saidmagnet thereby relieving the piece 10'? of pressure sud allowing it; tobe swung clear of the part 110 by the spring 109 At the same timeelectrical contacts have bcen established as has already been explained.When the commutator segment 53 breaks the circuit through magnet 113.,the armature 112 drops and the forward endof lever 111 rises, thusallowing the spring 1.15 to break the circuit ever. shoulc the heybe'retained in a down ward position. Upon releasing the key thebell-cranl 106 may be returned'to its initial position by means of aspring 106, whereupon the operation may be repeated. The

part 111 of the lever 111 acts to preventthe bell-crank returning to itsnitial position. before the armature 112 is released from the magnet113. Upon the top of the magnet 113 is preferably arranged a sounder 158which at every revolution the disk 53 is drawn down and adapted to emita sound to guide the operator in the depression of the keys to preventrelease of a key until the segment 53 bridges the contacts forenergizing the nmgnet 113. The electric impulse sent to each of theclcctromagncts upon the depression of its key causes its particulartracker to be moved as has already been explained. By referring to Fig.12 it will be seen that back of all the latches 36, except the firsttwo. extends a bar 157 which is connected to the third latch, the onepertaining to spacer tracker 3%, whereby when any oncot' the keys isdepressed the hook 35 pertaining to spacer tracker 4" is dropped andthat tracker operates simultaneously with any of the trackers 28 withoutthe no ccssit-y ot' energizing the magnet pertaining to said trucker 34.It has already been ex plaincd how tracker 23 moves the initial disk 32into a position to throw its comb guide 31 into position to cause thetrackers 98 to be in position to engage the combs 26 of that characterunit. The various disks 32 are moved in succession by the tracker 3 1,has already been explained, to bring the traclitcrs 23 into engagementwith the combs 2c of the various character units. The projections 92 onany comb 26 contacting with the bar 91 causes the trip member 89 to 1'0-tate upon the shaft 73 and thus tensions the spring 90. The firstmovement of the disk 32 carries the latch 93 until its end 93 engagesthe corner 89 of the trip member 89 and the second movement of disk 32will therc.tore rotate the trip 8!) drawing it out oi engagement witharm 88, allowing the shaft 20 to rotate and allowing such of thetumblers 25 to descend as are not held up by the teeth 27 of the combs26, and thereby turnii'ig outwardly the convex sides of the displaymembers 10, attached thereto forming a character or design on thecharacter unit A. It is to be understood that if the trip member 89 hasnot been moved by any one of the projections 92 that the corner 89 willbe beyond the limit of travel of the end 93 of the latch. 93, and thetrip means I will not be operated but the progressor mech nism. G willpass along to the next character unit- A. lVhe'n the last one, 321, ofthe series of disks (shown near the central part of Fig. 4t) has beenoperated to bring the stud 79 to the opposite end of the slot to thatshown in Fig. 4 the circuit. of magnets 42 and 113 is broken by saiddisk Fig. 13). This prevents further operation of the trackers 28 andcauses cessation of the operation of the sounder, thus indicating to theoperator that the end of the line has been reached. The carriage 117 maythen be returned toward the operators right and the operation repeated.Enen gization of magnet. 12 causes disk 321 to be rotated and breaks thecircuit of said magnetand thus prevents a repetition of the operations.

When it is desired to write a legend without displayingit as eachcharacter is written, the lever 122 may be placed in the position shownin Fig. 10 and upon drawing the carriage 117 to the 'op'erators rightthe second magnet 4.21, that which is directly connected to littertracker 23, is energized. This pulls the said'tracker to the right andthe stop (30 holds it in that position and consequently a secondaccidental energization of said magnet would not do any harm. Thetrackers, combs, etc., may now be operated previously, and when thesounder 158 ceases operation, and at the time that the carriage 117 hasreached its left hand position, it is indicated that the end of the linehas been reached, whereupon button 128 may be depressed to operate thetracker (33 which, as has already beenexplained, releases the liftertracker 23 aid allows the same to mo'vetowafrd the, left and also allowsthe arms 22 to move in 'he same direction and the arm-19 "to descend,thereby allowing the rods 9 to rotate and such of the display members 10as. are not held up as in the previous instance'to be rotated to display the legends on the entire line of character units. After the legendhas been d1splayed for a sutficicnt length of time, the carriage may bedrawn to the right and the operation repeated. it is to be noted that inchanging from the consecutive or first members 10 of the character unitsA to the simultaneous or last described method of doing so it isadvisable to press the button 128 before operating the lever 122 toinsure that a double stroke of the tracker 23 has been made to have thedisk 32 placed. in position to commence the line.

The teeth on the reverse side of the combs 26 are the complement ofthose on the upper side, that is to say they would hold up the tumblersthat the upper teeth allow to descend, and allow to descend,those of thetumblers which the upper teeth hold up. Therefore by reversing the combsthe characters formed are of the color of the previous background andthe back ground is the color of the previous characters. By pressthrough the case of the apparatus J, and simultaneously depressing oneor more keys the character units may be operated as rapidly as therocker 17 oscillates. For in- I the whole line of units A may have theconvex sides of all the display members 10 turned to be on display inrapid succession.

While one form of construction in which the invention may be embodiedhas been particularly illustrated and described, many changes andmodifications thereof will readily occur to those skilled in the artwherefore the right is reserved to all such changes and. modificationsspirit and in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In mutable publicity apparatus, a charactor unit comprising a frame,rods pivotally mounted on the side pieces of said frame and eachprovided with projections thereon, and display members pivotally mountedon said rods, said display members each including acurved piece havingthe sides thereof of different appearance and disposed to be engaged bysaid projections when the rods are turned.

2. In mutable publicity apparatus, the combination of acharacter unitcomprising a frame, rods pivotally mounted on the side pieces of saidframe and each provided with projections thereon, and display memberspivotally mounted on said rods, said display members having the sid sthereof of difierentappearance and disposed to be engaged by saidprojections when the rods are turned, and means for turning said rods.

3. In mutable publicity apparatus, in

l combination, a character unit comprising a prescribed method ofoperating the display stance b vressin down the kevs H and.

3 r b I as do not depart from the scope of the invention as defined ingdown upon the part 110, which projects noeasos I W frame, rods pivotallymounted on the side pieces of said frame and each provided withprojections thereon, and display members pivotally mounted on said rods,means for turning said rods in common to set the display members in likeposition, and means operable to change the position of a part of thedisplay members to form a desired character.

4. In mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a character unitcomprising a frame, rods pivotally mounted on the side pieces of saidframe and each provided with projections thereon, and display memberspivotally mounted on.said rods, said display members having the sidesthereof of different appearance and disposed to be engaged by saidprojections when the rods are turned, a side plate connected with saidrods, a shaft operatively connected with said side plate, and meansoperatively connected with said shaft to rotate the same.

5. In mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a character unitcomprising a frame, rods pivotally mounted on the side pieces of saidframe and each provided with projections thereon, and display memberspivotally mounted on said rods, said display members having the sidesthereof of dilterent appearance and disposed to be engaged by saidprojections, and means for turning said rods, said means including aside plate connected with said rods, a shaft. operatively connected withsaid side plate, a tracker operativcly connected with said shaft, andoperating means connected with said tracker.

6. In mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a character unitprovided with movable display members thereon. said display membershaving the sides thereof of diil'erent appearance, means tor setting thedisplay members in common in like position, selective mechanism adaptedto be operatively connected with said display members to change theposition ot a part of the display members to form desired character,operating mechanism to actuate the selective mechanism, and transmittingmechanism to control the action of said operating mechanism.

7. In Inutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a character unithaving movable display members thereon, said display members having thesides thereof of ditier-,

turning said display members in common to set the same in like position,means to change the position ot a part of the display members to form adesired character, said means including a toothed comb, a trackeradapted to engage said comb, and means. operating said tracker, saidmeans includinga hook connected with said tracker and a rocker adaptedto engage with said hook.

ent appearance, means for 8. In publicity apparatus, in combination,

i turned, in ans for a character unit provided with movable displaymembers thereon, said display members having the sides thereof ofdifferent appearance, means for turning said display members in commonto set the same in like position, and means to change the position of apart of said display members to form a desired character, said meansincluding a toothed comb adapted to be operatively connected with saiddisplay members, a tracker to engage said comb, a guide for moving saidtracker into engagement with said comb, means to operate said guide, andmeans to operate said tracker.

9. in mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, character unitprovided with movable display members thereon, said display membershaving the sides thereofof different appearance, means for turning saiddisplay members in common to set the samein like position, and meansoperable to change the position of a part of the display members to forma desired character, said means including a toothed comb and a trackeradapted to engage said comb, engaging mechanism operatively connectedwith the tracker, operating mechanism connected with said tracker, andmeans for re turning said tracker to a predetermined position. f

10. In mutable publicity apparatus, the combination of a character unitcomprising a frame, rods pivotally mounted on the side pieces of saidframe and each provided with projections thereon, and display memberspivotally mounted on members having the cut apptan'ance and disposed tobe engaged by said projections when the rods are turning said rods,including a side plate connected with said rods, a shaft operativelyconnected with said side plate, and means for turning said shaft, andmeans for holding said shaft from turning to thereby hold said sidepiece in its upper position.

11. In mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a character unithaving display members movably mounted thereon, said display membershaving the sides thereof or diti'erent appearance, means io r turningsaid display'inembers in common. to set the same in like position, saidmeans including a side plate operatively connected with said displaymembers, and a shaft operatively connected with said side plate, meansto rotate said shaft, and means for holding said shaft from rotation. 4

12. In mutable publicity apparatus, 'in combination. a series ofstationary character units each provided with display members mo ablymounted thereon, said display members having the cut appearance, meansoperatively connected with each of said units to set the dis said rods,said display sides thereof of difi'er- 1 as l.

sides thereof of ditferplay members thereon in like position, said meansincluding a side plate and a shaft for moving said side plate, and tripmeans for holding said shaft from rotation when said display membershave been set in like posi tion.

13. In mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a seriesofstationary character units having display members movably mountedthereon, re-setting means associated with the character units, saidmeans including a shaft whereby said display members may be turned toassume a like position, and trip means operatively connected with saidre-setting means for holding said shatt from rotation.

14. In mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a series ofstationary character units having movable display members thereon, saiddisplay members having the sides thereof of different appearance,mechanism including a shaft operatively connected Witheach of said unitsfor'setting the display members thereon in like position, selectivemechanism operatively connected with the display members of each of saidunits, trip means for holding said shaft from rotation, operatingmechanism to actu ate said selective mechanism, and mechanism forcontrolling engagement of the operating mechahism with the selectivemecha- .15. In mutable publicity apparatus, in

combination, a series of stationary character units having movabledisplay members thereon, said display members having the sides thereofofdifferent appearance, means operatively connected with each of saidunits for turning the display members in common to assume a likeposition, selective mechanism associated with the display memhere ofeach of thecharacter units, engagingmechanism associated wlth saidselective ,mechanism, operating mechanism adapted to be connectedwith-said selective .mechanism by action of the engaging mechanism, andmechanism adapted to be opcratively connected with said unitssuccessively to actuate the engaging mechanism.

16. In mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a series ofstationary character units having display members 1n0vably' mountedthereon, means opcratively connected with" the display members of eachof said units for setting the same in a like position, selectivemechanism associated with said display members, operating mechanism toactuate said selective mechanism, engaging mechanism to controloperative connection of said selective mechanism with said operatingmechanism, and automatic mechanism to actuate the said engagingmechanism of the units in succession.

17'. In mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a series ofstationary character 18. In mutable publicity apparatus, in'

combination, a serieso'i: stationary character units each having dispiaymembers movably mounted thereon, said display members having the sidesthereof of diiierent appearance, means including a shaft operativelyconnected witlrsaid display mem bers of each of said units for settingthe display members in like position, selective mechanism associatedwith the display menr bers of each 01" said units, key-controlledmechanism to operate said selective mocha-- nism, and engaging mechanismto effect opcative relation between the key-controlled and selectivemechanisms.

19. In mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a series ofcharacter units, each having display members movably mounted thereon,said display members having the sides thereof of difl erent appearance,means including a shaft opera tively connected with the display membersof each of said units to set the display members in like position, se-

lective mechanism associated with said display members of each oi theunits, operating mechanism to actuate said selective mechanism, engagingmechanism to effect operative relation between the operating andselective mechanisms, and transmitting apparatus to control saidoperatingmechanism.

20. In mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a series ofstationary character units having movable display members thereon, saiddisplay members having the sides thereof of different appearance, meansincluding a shaft adapted to be operatively connected with the displaymembers of each of said units to set the display members in likeposition, selective mechanism associated with the display members ofeach of said units, operating mechanism to actuate said selectivemechanism, engaging mechanism to eiicct operative relation between theup crating and selective mechanisms, mechanism adapted to be operativelyconnected Withthe units successively to actuate said engaging mechanism,and trip means for holding said shaft from rotation.

21. In mutable publicity apparatus, in

combination, a series of stationary character units having movabledisplay members thereon, saiti oispiay members having the 1 i v I sating .iechsnism, and men -s nnintentionai iepetition of nctn etion ofsaid selective mechanism by said anisni. in Rumble publicity nppcmtns,in combination, s series of stetionayy chainetei' units having displaymembers movehly inonnteci thereon, scicl display members having the siies thereoi a t 'fieirent appearance, means including 2:, si cospteci tobe operst-iveiy connected with the display members oi? each of said unis set the 53 619 in like posit-ion, selective mechanism associated with.the display members of each the units, operating mechanism to actuatethe sciective mechanism, engaging mechanism to ettect operative relationbetween the operating anti selective mechanism, mechanism adapted to heoperativeiy connecteti with the units successively to actuate theengaging mechanism, transmit-ting apparatus to con-- trol shiftoperating mechanism, and trip s fer holding said shaft from rotationinutebie publicity apparatus, in

1 "1 Stationary ch? lsnis v mehaving theree JJ 'ent appear-since, meansutiii'ig shaft opei'ctive tisplcv ineinhei's oi connecteti with 1 ofsaid. units nation, setics ct stationary characinits having movabledispia i ineinoers scic. Liispie y mete-bees having appearance, s 1p &to he ope:

memhets Clispie v it inits like oosi J ing the display me in like posi--1 i111, e K18Ci12111l51i,, 1$S9ifltitlti w th SELlCi display nieinhetsor each of the units,

s llsy members at each mechanism iner units A .ieirent appearance, meanst Hdf-LQliXi to he 0 ieiictivcl v he display members 1. connected with tof each of ssici units :tci tin the ciispliiy 1ne11iei's in. at likeposition, selective mechanism essocictei with members of each of theunits, s ine hanisin including toothcei '?on'1hs 'ii'itClZGi'S movable cent rith. sniti combs, means v a cum clisit for moving said trackersinto engagement with the combs,

am it ;}'-C )11i10-ii c operating mechanism to actuate said trackers.

26. The cot oinstion with a movable part, of a tracker movable to engagewith said pert, a rocker, a hook pivotally connected with tracker siniadapted to he engageti by part carried sci-i i'ociccr, means on seicisocket for miwlgscid hook, inecns Lei" knitting hook out of the path ofmove- (i pt on the rocket, and means 7 toe iifLiTZOQ. the lastinontioncn nient oi:

n V y f locker neens on A c for raising e c t he sci nook, niecns 1016ng said hook in raised position out of ie path of "movement of the parton seiti rocker, means centroilin'g the action oi t 1e lastmentionefimeans, and means inclutiing a tracker connected With said reek er forreturning the first tracker to its oifigincl position after it has beenmoved by the pint on he i'ockct'.

28. In nnitahle pnbiiqity appsi'atiis, in combination, plurality ofstationary chmuctci' units having display incnihci's movabi inonntccithereon, means connected with nit scici units i'it' il" ii]Q display inlike peeimeans for raising said hooks and with means adapted to engagewith said hooks to move the same, means to hold said hooks in raisedposition means to control the action of the last mentioned means, andmeans including a tracker operatively connected with said rocker forreturning the'iirst trackers to a predetermined posit-ion.

29.11, mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a plurality ofstationary character units having display members movably mountedthereon, means connected With each of said units for turning the displaymembers thereon to set the same in like posi tion, means operable, tochange the position of a part of the display members on the characterunitsvto form a desired legend, means including keys for controlling theaction of the last mentioned means, and means preventing the depressionof any of said keys while another of said keys is in depressed position.

30.111 mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a series ofstationary character units having display members movably mountedthereon, said display members having the sides thereof of differentappearance, means connected with each of said units for moving thedisplay members thereon to set the same in a like position; said meansincluding a shaft operatively connected with the display members, meansincluding a tracker t'oiloperate said shaft, selective mechanismassociated With each, of said character units, and ns for operating theselective,mechanisnifto display a de sired character on said characteriunitsiin succession.

31. In mutable publicity appar tu combination, a series of stationary;char acter units having movable display members thereon, said displayInen'i bers,having, the sides thereof of difierent appearance, meansoperatively connected wit it each of said units for moving the displayinembers in common to assume a like position,.selective mechanismassociated *vviththe display members of each of said units; operatingmechanism to actuate the selective mechanism, engaging mechanism toeffect operative relation between the operating mechanism and theselective mechanism, and automatic means to operate the engagingmechanism of succeeding character units.

32. In mutable publicity apparatus, in combination, a series ofstationary character units having movable display members thereon, saiddisplay members having the sides thereof of different appearance, meansoperatively. connected with each of said units for moving the displaymembers in common to assume a like position, selective mechanismassociated with the display members of each of said units, operatingmechanism to actuate the selective mechanoes of one otthe disks at areater raldial distanceuthaiithe pivo imeihb ers to nism, engagingmechanism to eflect operative relation between the operating 1nechanismand the selective mechanism, and auto matic means to operate theengaging mechanism of succeeding character units,'the last meansincluding pivotally mounted cam disks provided with a pivot near theperiphery thereof and each having a part pivotally mounted near theperiphery thereof, said part having thereon a pin and a pivot, said pinand pivot and the pivot oi the part arranged so that straight linesjoining them together form a substantially equi lateral triangle, a linkhaving one end thereof connected to the pivot on the part of one of thedisks and having the other end thereof mounted on the pivot near theperiphery of a preceding disk, the last pivot being at a greater radialdistance than the pivot on said part, a spring attached to said link,and a tracker adapted to be engaged by the pin on said part.

83. The combination of pivotally moimt ed disks each provided with apivot disposed near the periphery thereof and each having a partpivotally mounted near theperiphery thereof, said part having thereon apin and a pivot which pin and pivot and the pivot of the part arearranged sothat straight li: joining them together form a substantialequilateral triangle, a thereof connected to the pivot on the part andthe other end thereof, mounted onfl'the pivot riphery'of the next disk,the las'tpivotbeing ares spring connectechw keradapted toaengage w t ypart, and me anstohoperatef ettracker; The combination I of a characterun't 'havingwdisplay members neatly moun ed thereon, means r mming saiddisplay set the \same in. like said means including a shalt operativelyconnected with said display members and means to turn the shaft, andtrip means for holdingsaid shaft ,from turning, the last sensing; pivot,a part and a trip member coaxially mounted on said pivot, a latch onsaid part adapted to engage with said trip member, a bar carried by saidtrip member for the purpose set forth, an arm mounted on said shaft andhaving a projection adapted to engage said latch, and a spring forholding the trip member in engagement with said arm. e

35. In mutable publicity apparatus, the combination of trackers, andmechanism for operating said trackers, said mechanism in cluding arocker having pivotally connected with said trackers and adapted when ina down position to be moved by said has, and .neans for holding any ofsaid hooks in up position.

36. In mutable I t, link having one end a bar thereon, hooks publicityapparatus, the .1

disposedvnear the pa;

position,

lie

combination of trackers, and mechanism for operatingsaid trackers, saidmechanism including a rocker having a bar thereon, hooks pivotallyconnected with ,said trackers and adapted when in a down position to bemoved by said 1M1, latches for holding said hooks in ali up position,and means for operating said latches.

37. In niutahle publicity apparatus, the

cou'ibination of trackers, and mechanism for 7 operating said trackers,said mechanism including a rocker having a bar thereon, hooks pivotallyconnected with said trackers and 'adapted when in a down position to bemoved l) said liar, and key controlled means for holding any of saidhooks in an up position.

Tn mutahle publicity apparatus, the combination of trackers, andmechanism for operating said trackers, said mechanism ineluding, arocker having a bar thereon, hooks pivotatly connected with saidtrackers and adapted when in a down position to be moved by said bar,and electroinagiiets for holding the hooks in an up position.

3!). ln mutalile publicity apparatus, the combination of a littertracker having a projection thereon. a pivoted stop adapted to engagewith said projection, a short tracker provided with a slot and having aninclined portion adapted to raise the stop out of engagement with theprojection, a stud on the lifting tracker arranged in the slot, in theshort tracker, and means to operate the trackers.

lii testimon \vheleot'. l have signed my name to thi specifi ation inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses at lms Angeles, county of Los\ngeles, State of (falitornia, this 21st day of August A. l). till 1.

l. (lLAltlGNtll l Xl nvtilili, JR.

\Vit nesscs:

S. U. Santa,

Anux. ll. luomcns.

